Liquid-controlled alarm apparatus.



S. A. GLYNN 6,; B. L. QUAYLE.

LIQUID CONTROLLED ALARM APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.21,1912.

Patented. July 21, 19M.

LEG4A1QQ 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

S. A. GLYNN & B. L. QUAYLE.

LIQUID CONTROLLED ALARM APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED P111121, 1912 Patented July 21, 1914 2 SHBETSSHEBT Z.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN A. GLYNN AND BERT L. QUA'YLE, OF EAST ELY, NEVADA.

LIQUIiJ-CONTROLLED ALARM APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented-July 21, 1914.

Application filed February 21, 1912. semi in. 679,200.

T all whomit may concern:

Be it known that we. SrnrnnN A. GLYNN and BERT L. QUAYLE, citizens of the Unlted States, residing at East Ely, in the county of \Vhite Pine and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Controlled Alarm Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in safety or warning apparatus and controlling means therefor, for insuring a constant liquid flow from a jet or orifice, and for sounding an audible alarm upon the diminution, or cessation of such flow.

One of'thc objects of the invention is to rovide an apparatus, which is automatic in its action, and 1s constructed and arranged ft r operation upon the diminution, or cessation. of the flow of a liquid to sound an alarm and thereby warn an attendant of such cessation or diminution of flow. In.

this connection, the apparatus, which is of special utility in connection with a lubricating system. embodies as an element a su1table straining device which is located in the path of the flowing liquid as 1t issues from the aforesaid jet or orifice. Preferably,.

feature. asccondary conduit or passage,-

which may contain a chamber for a reserve supply of the lubricant, and a. valve in said conduit which normally is closed against the passage of liquid. This valve is so constructed and arranged for operation that if the liquid should cease to flow through the main passage, or the strainer heretofore referred to should become foul so as to prevent the passage of liquid therethrough, it will through suitable electrical or other means, be permitted to operate in such manner as to open the secondary passage and permit the flow of the lubricant, or other liquid to continue therethrough.

Other features of the invention, including verv important details of construction, and

combinations of parts, will be hereinafter! more particularly described and the novel features thereof pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aside elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of an apparatus embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale than Fig. 1. illustrating certain details to be described later. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a slight rea rangement of the magnet and valve operat- 111g arm for the secondary passage; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly sectional, showing a modification; and Fig. 5 is a view showing several alternative forms of the counter-balance controlling tongue.

Referring to Fig. '1, A represents a cup for containing oil, or other liquid, which is supplied from :the main pipe 0, to a discharge nozzle 'W from which it'issues in a stream, orin drops, according to the requirements of the particular case. The cup A is shown herein as provided near its upper portion with an internal screw thread. and a sediment arresting screen or strainer K is provided peripherally with an external thread whereby it may be connected to the cup A in such manner as to strain the oil flowing therethrough from the pipe 0. A clamping band J, which is best shown in 2, is at one end connected or formed integral with a base j, and its opposite end 18 shown as bent laterally, a bolt is passing through a perforation in the base j, and also through a perforation in the bent end of the band J, and provided with suitable nuts at its ends, said rparts forming a clamp. The band J. as shown in Fig. 1, is firmly clamped around the oil cup A, and the base j carries a slide Z which moves in ways in said base. A spring Z acts upon one end of the slide Z, and a screw P, which has threaded engagement with the forward portion of the base 7, acts upon the opposite end of said slide. The slide Z supports a base 171 carrying way-s arranged at right angles to the slide Z and in which ways is slidably mounted a second slide m which is adjustably held in position by set screws m and m". Standards E are supported from the slide m, levers C, C are pivoted from rods D, D carried by the standards, said levers having their ends pivoted to rods C and C, so as to form a parallelogram. The several members '0, C, C and C ofthe parallelogram may be connected at their respective ends by cone pivion ots, or other pivoting or hinging devices. The member C of the parallelogram is provided with a rigid, horizontally projecting tongue B which is so shaped and arranged as to receive the oil as it issues from the nozzle M in its passage to the cup A. The member G of the parallelogram has a downi wardly extending portion which is shown as terminating in a hook C from which is sus- "ended a bucket or other form of receptacle gr.- The upper, portion of the cup A is shown as having a notch L therein, from which leads an overflow conductor F, dischargin into the receptacle G. It will be observe that by the use of the parallelo ram the members C and C will always e maintained in a vertical position whatever the position of the balance may be. Fixed to the member C of the parallelogram is a threaded spindle I carrying a threaded counter-weight H, which latter is'thereby rendered adjustable. The red I also carries at its outer end a circuit closer R, which is normally maintained out of engagement with the terminals r, r of a circuit which includes a battery 6 and an alarm d, as shown in Fig. 1.

With the apparatus as thus far described it will be observed that the tongue B is supported in position beneath the nozzle M, and the adjustment afforded by the slides Z and m renders it possible to locate the center of the tongue in vertical alinement with the center of the nozzle M. These conditions being properly adjusted the flow of oil irom the nozzle, either in the form of drops or a stream, will eifect, upon proper adjustment of the weight H an overbalancing of the end of the levers C, C to which said weight is connected, and will thereby hold the circuit closer R in the position shown in Fig. 1, and

so that the circuit will be open and the alarm d will not operate. In the event, however, of the flow from the nozzle M being arrested, or so diminished that the amount of oil retained temporarily upon the tongue B is insuflicient to overbalance" the weight H, said weight will cause the circuit closer to complete the circuit through the battery and alarm d, and advise the attendant of such stoppage or diminution of the flow of oil. It will also be seen that in case the screen K should become clogged by sediment, or other wise so rendered inactive as to cause the oil to back up and flow through the opening L and overflow F into bucket G, the tongue B will also be overbalanced, and the circuit closed to sound the alarm and warn the attendant. The apparatus therefore is so constructed that upon failure of the oil to pass freely beyond the vessel A to the bearing or other point of supply, either by reason of a stoppage in the supply pipe 0, or nozzle M, or by reason of the screen K being clogged, an alarm will be sounded.

In addition to the means for actuating the alarm provision is also made under this invention to automatically continue the oil flow in case of the cessation of the flow from the main orifice M, or in case of the clogging of the screen K in the oil cup A. This addition comprises an auxiliary oil passage P, which connects the pipe 0 with the vessel A, below the screen K, the passage P having therein preferably an auxiliary reservoir R for the oil. A valveT, shown in Fig. l as a slide valve, and having a stem moving in an aperture through a casing in the pipe M, and provided with a head V, and a spiral spring U which 1s confined between the valve easing' and head V, is normally held closed by suitable means, as will be described. As shown in Fig. 1 a pivot lever \V carries a finger W, which is engaged by the head V of the valve under the stress of the spring U, and holds the valve normally closed across the passage 1. An electro-magnet Z is included in the circuit before referred to, and shown in Fig. 1, and an armature Y is carried by the outer end of the lever W, and said lever also carries a stop finger X which is in position to arrest the outward movement of the valve when the same is released and permitted to open.

lVith this construction, it Wlll be seen that when the circuit is closed, either by cessation of the flow from the nozzle M, or by a clogging of the screen 'K, the magnet Z, being energized, will attract the armature, thus removing the finger VV' from the head V, and permitting the spring U to open the valve T. This will permit oil to flow from the auxiliary reservoir through the pipe P into the vessel A below the screen K, and thence to the bearing or other point of delivery.

Instead of a slide valve T, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the valve of the auxiliary supply pipe may be in the form of a ball valve T, as shown in Fig. 4. In this view the valve is actuated by a small rod t, which is rotatably mounted in the valve casing, and has at its inner end a bent portion or foot to engage the valve, and at its outer end a bent portion to engage a projection u carried by the lever NW. A torsion spring, having one end connected with the rod t, and its other end connected with the valve casing, normally tends to rotate the rod in a direction to open the valve, but is prevented by the finger u when the lever W occupies the position shown in Fig. 4. When the magnet Z is energized, the armature, being attracted, will move lever to the right, releasing the rod t, and thereby permitting the torsion spring to rotate said rod and lift the ball valve from its seat.

In Fig. 5 are represented several modified forms of the tongue B whose shape will be determined by the character of the -flow of cable, by slight changes of the form 0 the. tongue, to controlling the alarm in the case of a drop feed, as Well as a stream flow of lubricant although in the former case more careful designin of the tongue B is required. To furt er elucidate this feature 'of the device, it is to be observed that the central idea is a counter-balancing of, first,

the weight of the oil on the tongue at any vinstant of time during its travel from the highest, to the lowest point on the tongue, and second, the momentum of the oil impinging uponthe tongue. When, therefore, the flow of oil from the feed pipe is lessened to a series of drops, both the weight of oil on the tongue and the momentum of the oil impinging upon the tongue is reduced, re-

sulting in the necessity of a very fine adj ustment of the counter-Wei ht, and necessitating perhaps a modification of the form of the tongue itself. Referring to Fig. 5, for instance, the tongue 3, 3, shown therein (or its modified form as shown at 4, 4) might very well serve in connection with a solid stream feed, but in order to make the device effective with a drop feed the cones 3, 3,

would probably have to be flattened, as

shown for example, at 2, 2, so as to reduce the speed of the oil in flowing from the top to the bottom of the tongue. Assuming for example that the proper lubrication of a journal required one drop from the feed nozzle M per second, it might be desirable to so flatten the cones 3, 3, as to require say, one minute for a dro .-of oil to run from the point of impact of t e stream to the lowest point on the tongue. The weight of oil on the tongue, at any instant of time, therefore, when the lubricator is feeding properly, would be the weight'of sixty drops of oil. If then the feed pipe should become clogged so as to reduce this supply to thirty drops per minute, the counter-weight would detect the difference in the weight of oil on the tongue, and register through the electric signal, a call for attention.

The right is reserved to vary the structural details of the apparatus, herein disclosed by way of example only, within certain limits, and the invention is not confined to the exact construction and arrangement shown, other than the same is limited by the.

- face being shaped to receive the drops or stream of oil issuing from the nozzle M, while the lower portion retains, for a time, the oil until it finally is discharged from the lowest point thereon. In Figs. 1 and 5, a

desirable form of tongue comprises an upper convex portion and a lower conical portion. Other forms are also illustrated in Fig. 5, and the invention is not confined to any particular design of tongue as the same may be varied to suit the different conditions of liquid flow from the orifice M.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle for the liquid, a counterbalanced lever" carrying a tongue having oppositely projecting surfaces shaped to retain a portion of the liquid flowing from the source of supply to said receptacle, said tongue being located between said liquid' supply and receptacle, and means cont-rolled by the lever to indicate a diminution of the flow of the liquid. 2. In an apparatus of the class described, a liquid supplying conduit provided with a discharge orifice, a counterbalanced lever carrying at one end a tongue comprising protuberant surfaces which project above and below a central horizontal plane and upon which a portion of the liquid is adapted to be retained by adhesion, said tongue being located below said orifice, and .an alarm arranged for operation by said lever when the weight of liquid on the tongue falls below a predetermined limit.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supply pipe, a counterbalanced lever carrying a tongue comprising protuberant surfaces projecting above and below a central horizontal lane and arranged in the path of the liquid flowing from said pipe, a circuit-closer carriedby said lever, and a circuit having an alarm therein and also having terminals in position to be closed by the circuit-closer when said tongue is overbalanced 4:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supply pipe, a receptacle to contain liquid flowing from said pipe, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a tongue comprising surfaces which project above and below a central horizontal plane and are adapted to retain a portion of the liquid thereon, said tongue being arranged to receive the liquid discharged from said pipe, an adjustable weight supported from the other end of said lever, and an alarm arranged for actuation by said lever when the tongue becomes overbalanced by said weight.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supply pipe, a receptacle to receive liquid from said. pipe, levers pivotally supported in parallel relation rods pivoted to the ends of said levers to form a parallelogram, a tongue supported from one end of the levers in position to receive liquid flowing from said pipe, an adjustable weight supported from the other end of said levers, and an alarm arranged for actuation by said levers when the supply of liquid diminishes sufiiciently to permit over-balancing of the ton ue by the weight.

6. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a suppl pipe, pivotcd levers arranged in paral el relation rods pivoted to the ends of said levers and forming therewith a parallelogram, a tongue supported from one end of the levers in posit-ion to receive the liquid discharged from said pipe, an adjustable weight carried by the other end of said levers, and an alarm arranged to be actuated by movement of the levers when the supply of li uid diminishes suitieiently to permit overba ancing of the tongue by the weight.

7. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe, pivoted levers arranged in parallel relation, rods pivoted to the ends of said levers and forming therewith a parallelogram, a tongue comprising protuberant surfaces and supported from one end of the levers in p0- sition to receive the liquid discharged from said pipe, an adjustab e weight carried by the other end of said levers, and an alarm arranged to be actuated by movement of the levers when the supply of liquid diminishes sufiiciently to permit overbalanclng of the tongue by the weight.

8. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe having a discharge orifice, a. pivoted lever having at one end a tongue comprising upper and lower protuberant surfaces for retalning a portion of the liquidthereon and located in the path of the liquid flowing from said pipe, and at the other end carrying an adjustable weight, an alarm arranged for actuation by said lever when the flow.

of liquid diminishes sufliciently to permit the weight to overbalance the tongue, and means permitting adjustment of said tongue whereby its center may be located in alinement with said orifice.

9. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, asupply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a support, a lever pivoted to said support and having at one end a tongue comprising upper and lower protuberant surfaces Which are adapted to retain a portion of the l1qu1d thereon by adhesion and' at its opposite end an adjustable weight, an alarm arranged to be actuated by said lever upon diminution of the flow through said pipe, and slides sustaining saidsupport and arranged for adjustment in transverse planes to center the tongue relatively to said orifice.

10. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said orifice, a clamp surrounding said receptacle, holding means for the clamp, a

base sustained from said clamp, transversely movable slides carried by said base, adjusting means for said slides, a standard supported from the slides, a lever fulcrumed to said standard, a tongue carried by one end of the lever and comprising upper and lower protuberant surfaces which are adapted to retain a portion of the liquid thereon by adhesion, said tongue arranged in the path of the liquid flowing from the orifice, an adjustable weight supported from the other end of said lever, and an alarm arranged to be actuated by said lever when said weight overbalances said tongue.

11. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a lever pivotally supported and carrying at one end a tongue composed of oppositely disposed protuberant surfaces ada ted to retain a portion of the flowing liquid thereon by adhesion, said tongue arranged in the path-of the liquid flowing from said orifice, an adjustable weight carried by the other end of said lever, and an alarm arranged to be actuated by the lever when, through a diminution or cessation of the normal flow of liquid through the supply pipe, the tongue will be relieved of a suflicientamount of liquid to permit said Weight to overbalance said tongue.

12. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a pivotally supported lever carrying at one end a tongue composed of an u per convex surface, and. a lower conical sur ace constructed to retain a portion of the flowing liquid thereon by adhesion, said tongue being interposed in the,

path of the liquid flowing from said orifice, an adjustable weight carried by the other end of said lever, and an alarm arranged to be actuated by the lever when through a diminution or cessation of the normal fiow of liquid through the supply pipe the tongue will be relieved of a sufiicient amount of liquid to permit said weight to overbalance said tongue.

13. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a liquid receptacle arranged below said orifice and provided with a strainer, a counterbalanced lever having at one end a tongue which is located in the path of the liquid fiowin from said orifice to the receptacle, a vesse supported from the other end of said lever, an overflow opening in the receptacle above the strainer, means for conducting liquid from said opening to said vessel, and an alarm arranged for actuation by said lever when the lever is overbalanced by the liquid in said vessel.

14. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe, areccptacle arranged to receive liquid discharged from said )ipe,a strainer in said receptacle, an over! ow for conducting the liquid from a point above said strainer, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a tongue interposed in the path of liquid flowing from said pipe, an adjustable weight supported from the other end of said lever, a vessel also supported from the same end of the lever and arranged to receive the liquid which overflows from said receptacle when the strainer becomes clogged, and an alarm to be actuated by said lever upon the overflow of liquid.

15. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe, a

receptacle arranged to receive liqu1d discharged from said pipe, a strainer having threaded engagement with the interior of said receptacle, an opening in the walls of the receptacle above said strainer and an overflow conduit communicating with said opening, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a tongue'arranged in the path of the liquid flowing from said pipe, and at the other end supporting an adjustable weight, a vessel sustained from the latter end of said lever in position to receive the overflow from said receptacle, an electrical circuit having an alarm and suitable terminals, and a circuit closer supported by said lever and arranged to complete the circuit and sound the alarm when the tongue is overbalanced by the liquid in the overflow vessel.

16. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe with a discharge orifice therein, a receptacle to receive liquid flowing from said orifice and having a discharge connection, an alarm, an auxiliary pipe or conduit connecting the main supply pipe with said receptacle, a normally closed valve in said auxiliary supply, and means arranged for actuation automatically when the supply through said orifice is diminished or stopped to sound the alarm, and also to permit flow from the supply pipe to the discharge connection.

, 17. An an apparatus of the class described, a main supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said orifice, a liquid strainer in said receptacle, an electric circuit including an alarm, means to efiect actuation of the alarm when said straincrbecomes clogged, an auxiliary supply pipe connecting the main supply pipe with the receptacle at a point below the strainer, a normally closed valve in the auxiliary Supply pipe, and means for opening said valve when the alarm is actuated.

18. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a main supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said orifice, an electrical circuit having an alarm therein, mechanism arranged for actuation when the flow through said orifice diminishes or stops to actuate the alarm, an auxiliary supply pipe connecting the mam supply pipe with the race itacle, a normally closed valve therein, an means whereby said valve is opened to establish communication between said main supply pip; and receptacle when the alarmis actua e It). An apparatus of the class described havin in combination, a main supply pipe provi ed with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said orifice, a normally open electric circult, an alarm in said circuit, means controlled by a change in the flow of liquid from said orifice to close thecircuit and actuate the alarm, an auxiliary pipe connectmg said mam supply pipe with the receptacle, a normally closed valve in said aux- 1l1ary pipe, means tending to open said valve, a detent lever carryin an armature and constructed to maintam said valve closed, and a magnet included in said circuit to be energized when the alarm is sounded thereby attracting said armature and permitting the valve in the auxiliary pipe to open.

20. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a main supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said orifice, an auxiliary supply pipe connecting the main supply pipe with the receptacle, an electrically-controlled slide valve in said auxiliary supply pipe and normally closing the same, an electrical circuit having an alarm therein, and circuit closing means arranged for actuation upon the diminution or cessation of flow through said orifice to sound the alarm and open the valve in the auxiliary supply pipe.

21. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe pro vided with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said'orifice having a strainer therein, an electrical circuit provided with an alarm, an auxiliary supply pipe connecting the main supply pipe with the receptacle below said strainer, a normally closed valve in said auxiliary supply pipe, and mechanism arranged to be actuated when said strainer be comes clogged to sound the alarm and open the valve in the auxiliary supply pipe.

22. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice, a receptacle below said orifice having a strainer therein, an electrical circuit provided with an alarm, an auxiliary supply pipe connecting said main supply pipe with the receptacle below the strainer, a normally closed valve in the auxiliary supply pipe, a reservoir in said pipe, and mechanism controlled by a change of flow through said orifice or by the clogging "of the strainer for actuating the alarm and for opening said valve.

23. An apparatus of the class described havin in combination, a main supply pipe.

cle below said orifice, a strainer in' said re-,

ceptacle, a normally open electrical circuit provided with an alarm, an auxiliary suppl pipe connecting the main supply pipe wit the receptacle below the strainer, 0. normally closed electrically-controlled valve in the auxiliary supply pipe, and circuit closing means arranged or actuation upon the diminution or cessation of flow through said orifice to sound the alarm and open said valve. 24. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a main supply pipe provided with a discharge orifice,- a receptacle below said orifice, an auxiliary suppl pipe connecting the main supply pipe wit the receptacle, a valve in the auxiliary supply pipe having a stem provided with a head,

a s rin arranged between the valve casing an sai head, a ivoted lever having a finger to engage said head and hold the valve closed, an armature carried by said lever,

an electrical circuit provided with an alarm STEPHEN A. GLYNN. BERT L. QUAYLE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. CHANDLER, B. T. J USTLESEN. 

